ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • ZEE5’s ticket to bollywood

    ZEE5’s ticket to bollywood

    MUMBAI: ZEE5, India’s fastest growing ConTech brand consistently launches innovative campaigns to engage with customers. Taking a step forward and keeping consumers preferences in mind, ZEE5 has introduced #TicketToBollywood,  a special campaign to promote Hindi blockbuster movies on the platform.

    The pack consists of 4500+ movies across genres such as drama, comedy, romance, thrillers, docu-dramas etc. A refreshing and wide variety  be it blockbusters or critically acclaimed films. The ZEE5 library has something for everyone – The Tashkent Files, Simmba, URI: The Surgical Strike, Kedarnath, The Accidental Prime Minister, Why Cheat India, Sonchiriya, Paltan, Saheb Biwi aur Gangster3 amongst others.

    Aparna Acharekar, Programming Head, ZEE5 India said, “We are a nation with a high appetite for movies and engaging content. Since launch, we have carefully curated and handpicked the best films on our platform across genres. Subscribers have appreciated this as well and watched their favourite movies on ZEE5 at their convenience. We hope that #TicketToBollywood adds joy to the festive season.”

  • ALTBalaji partners with Microsoft and Eko India Financial Services to pilot a cloud coordinated content distribution network that saves cellular data

    ALTBalaji partners with Microsoft and Eko India Financial Services to pilot a cloud coordinated content distribution network that saves cellular data

    MUMBAI: Leading homegrown OTT platform, ALTBalaji has announced a consumer benefitting alliance with Microsoft and Indian fintech company, Eko India Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. The association will allow the digital SVOD platform’s subscribers to use Microsoft’s BlendNet technology to download and access ALTBalaji content without consuming large amounts of cellular data.

    BlendNet technology enables videos to be disseminated through a combination of cloud-enabled metadata systems. The file is then transferred onto the recipient’s mobile using peer-to-peer local Wi-Fi, after asking for the necessary permissions from the users. While the creation of this cloud plane might need a data network, the transfer of data will happen over local WiFi. Subscribers will be able to browse through all the content available within the app and get those files offline from nearby EKO retail stores, as well as from other users who have the same content that is being searched for. A subscriber on an average consumes 2-3 episodes per day using 1GB of their data, BlendNet will ensure that bulk data transfers happen locally increasing content consumption amongst its audience. Incase,  the consumer is in a remote region, then BlendNet will postpone the downloading of content till you come to a place where someone else has the same file nearby. This feature serves as a value proposition for ALTBalaji subscribers as they can now access their favourite content even in areas with low internet connectivity without adding any data costs over and above to the subscription cost which is an economical Rs 100 for 3 months and Rs 300 for the annual pack.

    Speaking on the technical association, Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO ALTBalaji and Group COO Balaji Telefilms said, “These technologies enable a large portion of the Indian population to bridge the digital divide and are enabling audiences from India’s heartland to access and participate in the digital revolution. At ALTBalaji it has always been our endeavour to reach out to the masses and enhance our users’ experience through such services, while being affordable. And through this pilot feature, we aim to attract more viewers to our platform from areas with not so good internet connectivity.”

    Dr. Sriram Rajamani, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India, said “It’s inspiring to see new solutions that enable end users across the socio-economic spectrum to access content and data in ways that are cost effective and impactful. Such technologies that combine the cloud with cheap, readily available and seamless connectivity for the end user have the potential to positively impact the lives of millions of people.”

    Meetul Patel, COO, Microsoft India, said, “Technological innovation is a great enabler towards a more digitally connected nation. Microsoft’s BlendNet is a great example of advanced technologies being used to make information and content accessible to all. It leverages the power of the cloud and intelligent edge networks to address gaps in connectivity and reduces the costs of content distribution. We are excited about this partnership which will help many more in India access and experience the benefits of digital content.”

    Commenting on the association, Abhinav Sinha, Co-founder and COO, Eko India Financial Services, said: "Eko is pleased to partner with Microsoft and ALTBalaji on this breakthrough project. It is always our endeavour to enhance brand, customer relationship via access to our platform and our vast network of merchants. This new technology by Microsoft, offered via ALTBalaji, enabled at our merchant outlets, would provide customers quick and direct access to content without consuming data. We believe this win-win partnership will be a welcome service to our business partners and customers. At Eko, we are committed to taking digital products to the masses and help everyone benefit from the digital economy.” 

    With 45 Originals as part of its vast and diverse, multi-genre content library, ALTBalaji continues to entertain audiences like never before. Shows like ‘Apharan,’ ‘Home’ ‘The Test Case’ ‘Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain,’ ‘PuncchBeat’ and the latest being ‘Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala’ have received adulation and accolades aplenty from across the length and breadth of the country.

  • 71st Emmy Awards Update: Hotstar Premium leads the way with 44 Wins!

    71st Emmy Awards Update: Hotstar Premium leads the way with 44 Wins!

    The recently concluded 71st Emmy Awards recognized excellence in primetime programming and individual achievement for the 2018-2019 television season. And the best performances of year have been spoken for! After leading the race with the maximum nominations, Hotstar Premium continues to be the destination for shows with maximum wins this year – a total of 44 Wins across Creative and Main Awards, way ahead of the rest in India.

    Cult show Game of Thrones took home a total of 12 awards across categories, while Chernobyl was a close second with a total of 10 wins this year. These winners are testament to great stories and even greater storytelling that make these titles and performances memorable and unique. Here’s a round-up of winners from the most coveted categories.

    Outstanding Drama Series: Game of Thrones
    Outstanding Limited Series: Chernobyl
    Lead Actress – Limited Series/Movie – Michelle Williams (Fosse/Verdon)
    Lead Actor – Comedy Series – Bill Hader (Barry)
    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Billy Porter (Pose)
    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Jodie Comer (Killing Eve)
    Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – Jesse Armstrong (Succession)
    Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special – Johan Renck (Chernobyl)
    Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special – Craig Mazin (Chernobyl)
    Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series – Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
    Outstanding Variety Talk Series – Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

  • ZEE5 partners with sunburn

    ZEE5 partners with sunburn

    MUMBAI: ZEE5, India's fastest growing Contech brand partners with Sunburn, Asia’s biggest Electronic Dance Music Festival to share exclusive interviews, behind the scene moments and premiere performances of Sunburn Season 13 on the Zee5 platform. 

    Currently in its thirteenth edition, Sunburn kickstarted last weekend with a power packed performance by American rapper, singer and songwriter Wiz Khalifa in Mumbai and Delhi. Sunburn will continue to host Arena performances across cities viz. Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune to eventually culminate with its popular flagship annual property which will take place in Goa from 27 to 29 December 2019.

    Sunburn, a Percept Intellectual Property, is Asia’s Premiere Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Festival, and is ranked amongst the world’s biggest music festivals. Started in 2007 as a 3 day music festival in Goa, Sunburn has grown to become an aspirational lifestyle brand boasting an eclectic mix of music, entertainment, experiences and celebration that has seeded music tourism in India. Over the past decade, Sunburn has brought together renowned International and Indian artists including Swedish House Mafia, Martin Garrix, Tiesto, Avicii, Hardwell, Deadmau5, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Afrojack, Above & Beyond, The Chainsmokers, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Marshmello, Paul Van Dyk, Skazi, Pete Tong, Dash Berlin, and Nicky Romero. ZEE5 subscribers can now watch all this action packed entertainment from the comfort of their home.

    Manpreet Bumrah, Business Development & Commercial Head, ZEE5 India, said, “We got a fantastic response from our audiences last year, encouraging us to take forward our collaboration with Sunburn yet again. We believe we complement each other. We have each established ourselves as the go-to destination for entertainment in our respective genres. This association, we believe, will be a wonderful value-add for our subscribers in the age-group of 18 to 34 years of age, a key demographic of our base.”

    Karan Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Percept Live commented, “We are thrilled to partner with ZEE5. Both Sunburn and ZEE5 have changed the dynamics of the Media & Entertainment domain and emerged as popular platforms for Millennials today. Sunburn has continually strived to scale up its innovation and entertainment quotient year on year inclusive of the best artist line-up, state-of-the-art technology and a wide range of experiential activities to provide fans with a larger than life wow experience, Our partnership with ZEE5 will definitively raise the bar and offer music aficionados an online entertaining musical experience like never before.”

    With over 3500 films, 500+ TV shows, 4000+ music videos, 35+ theatre plays and 80+ LIVE TV Channels across 12 languages, ZEE5 truly presents a blend of unrivalled content offering for its viewers across the nation and worldwide. With ZEE5, the global content of Zindagi as a brand, which was widely appreciated across the country, has also been brought back for its loyal viewers.

  • SonyLIV and OnePlus announce a strategic alliance to boost content offering for consumers

    SonyLIV and OnePlus announce a strategic alliance to boost content offering for consumers

    MUMBAI: SonyLIV locked in a multi-year strategic partnership with OnePlus, the global technology brand ahead of their much-awaited upcoming OnePlus TV launch in India. This alliance will open access to the extensive content library of Sony Pictures Networks India for OnePlus Smart TV users spanning movies, music, sports, animation, web originals, short films and much more. SonyLIV is amongst the few selected mobile apps available as part of the much-hyped OnePlus TV launch in India.

    After bolstering its place as a leader in the premium smartphone segment in India, OnePlus is foraying to Smart TV category to strengthen its consumer connect. SonyLIV’s partnership with OnePlus TV is reflective of their brand ethos of creating an exceptional viewing experience for its 100 MN plus monthly active users, expand the market potentialities and up the ante in brand integrations. In its efforts to capture newer and wider audience segments, SonyLIV intends to strengthen the engagement quotient with OnePlus by offering its varied content to the Smart TV users.

    “Our partnership with OnePlus is a leap ahead in blending captivating stories with an innovative viewing experience. With our robust content portfolio on offer, there’s plenty to consume for OnePlus TV users. This alliance enables us to expand our consumer footprint to Indian households and boost our engagement. It’s a great starting point for the two companies, and we are excited about the journey ahead of us,” Sony Pictures Networks India digital business head Uday Sodhi said.

    “With OnePlus TV being our latest premium offering, it is important for our users to have access to content across genres and languages and we believe Sony Liv offers that experience with its extensive content portfolio. This partnership along with the superior audio and picture quality on the OnePlus TV will offer a viewing experience like never before,” OnePlus India general manager Vikas Agarwal commented.

  • MX Player announces four new regional originals

    MX Player announces four new regional originals

    MUMBAI: Staying true to its philosophy of ‘Everytainment’ and continuing its focus on the regional markets, MX Player has announced four new Originals across languages and genres. With the two Telugu and two Marathi MX Originals, the platform is bringing entertaining and relatable shows with some of the best talent in the industry.

    Foraying into the Telugu market for the first time ever, MX Player adds a new language to its multiple range of offerings with the launch of the two Telugu MX Original Series’ that went live on 13 September. ‘Beyond Breakups’ and ‘Kalaham Madhuram’ introduce you to unique love stories that hit a break and further welcome you to the world of breakups.

    Additionally, the platform continues its foray in the Marathi market after the success of Aani Kay Have and adds two new Marathi series’ to its portfolio with ‘Pandu’ and ‘Once A Year’ that went live on 20 September. Both these slice of life dramas are in the comedy space with Pandu being a fun take on the everyday life of the Mumbai Police while the other series is a rom com.

     “Regional markets are among the largest growth drivers for MX Player, and we’re focused on bringing a wider range of premium regional content on our platform. There’s also significant untapped potential for content creators to cater to the under-served audience in these markets, and with our new regional originals, we are doing our best to bring Indian audiences’ quality digital-first content in their native language,” MX Player CEO Karan Bedi said.

    About the Series’:

    ‘Beyond Breakup’ talks about how a couple, Varun (a Software Engineer) and Shanti (a baker) who are in their mid-twenties and are very much in love. However, their happy go lucky relationship takes a toll when Varun out of now where comes up with a weird concept called “The Breakup Agreement”.

    On the other hand, ‘Kalaham Madhuram’ which also means ‘a fight is sweet’ is an anthology of different breakup stories set against the backdrop of different scenarios. The five episodic series features new couples in each episode and dives into the various reasons and rationales behind breakups.

     ‘Pandu’ is directed by Anusha Nanda Kumar & Sarang Sathaye and stars Suhas Sirsat & Deepak Shirke. This funny, dramatic and witty series is based on the life of the policemen and women – the brave hearts who stand tall to keep the city safe and is sure to keep you in splits.

    Adding a twist of romance and love, the other series is titled ‘Once A Year’. Directed by Mandar Kurundar, this 6 episodic series stars Mrinmayee Goldbole & Nipun Dharmadhikari that follows the romantic journey of a couple over a course of six years. Starting from their days in college to beyond, this rom com captures the true essence of friendship, love and togetherness. Both of the Marathi series will go live on 20 September.

  • Netflix announces ‘Drive’, first original film with Dharma Productions

    Netflix announces ‘Drive’, first original film with Dharma Productions

    MUMBAI: Netflix announced that Dharma Productions’ Drive will premiere as a Netflix Film exclusively on the service around the world. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the action-thriller heist film is Netflix’s first original film with Dharma Productions.

    The fast-paced film, high on action, stars Jacqueline Fernandes, Sushant Singh Rajput, Boman Irani, Pankaj Tripathi, Vibha Chhibber, Sapna Pabbi and Vikramjeet Virk. The film’s edgy car chases, interspersed with high octane music, make Drive a thorough entertainer.

    "At Netflix, we want to be a home for films across genres that delight our viewers in India and around the world. As we rapidly build our diverse film catalogue, we are excited to work on our first-ever film with Dharma Productions and bring Drive to Netflix. It is a complete entertainer led by a brilliantly talented cast and crew and is filled with foot tapping music and pulse-pounding action and drama. We can't wait for our members globally to enjoy it," Netflix India international original film director Srishti Behl Arya said.

    “Our vision for Drive was to make a film that elevates the genre of action-heist films. With nail-biting chases and action sequences, fronted by a spectacular cast, Drive combines the best of Bollywood storytelling with international production quality. I’m thrilled to partner Netflix once again in bringing this incredibly fun film to millions of fans of the action genre around the world,” Dharma Productions’ Karan Johar said.

  • The quirky ‘#IdeaChor’ campaign turns into a digital success for MX Player

    The quirky ‘#IdeaChor’ campaign turns into a digital success for MX Player

    MUMBAI: Within 7 months of launch and with 17 Originals, MX Player is India’s leading streaming platform that caters to 75 Mn Daily Active Users. However, the brand has been the talk of town for the past few days – ever since the strange #IdeaChor started trending on social media. While both the netizens and the digital gurus are intrigued by #IdeaChor, many have also reacted asking why MX Player is openly “stealing ideas”.

    But what MX Player has stolen is the attention of the viewer with this quirky gimmick of #IdeaChor for their MX Original Series – Kiska Hoga Thinkistan Season 2. This edition of the show witnessed high octane office politics and professional rivalry that turns personal with the new boss stealing ideas and then taking credit for them.

    With #IdeaChor, MX Player has shown its appreciation for brands that have set a high benchmark on digital as it aped several posts and ideas of theirs. This was an intentional attempt to give the audiences a taste of what it feels like when your ideas are stolen or taken credit for (as seen in the show). While many users are lauding the creativity of the posts despite the outright plagiarism, this digital campaign started many conversations that route back to the show.  Popular influencers like Gabbar Singh, Sagarcasm, Akshar Pathak, Trendulkar, Bollywood Gandu and Atul Khatri amongst others were also roped in to engage fanbases across categories.

    Commenting on the campaign, Abhishek Joshi, Head of Marketing and Business Partnerships, MX Player said, “Sometimes, stealing ideas turns out for the good but jokes apart, we wanted to grab the attention of the digital viewer. The campaign was conceptualized in a way to bring alive the narrative of ‘Kiska Hoga Thinkistan Season 2’. This engagement was risky, it was quirky, and it presented us with an opportunity to create conversations for a web series like never before. Be it brands, advertisers, viewers or the marketing fraternity at large – everyone has taken notice of this campaign and I am glad we caused a stir with this one.”

    A pioneering effort across categories in the OTT space, MX Player’s ‘#IdeaChor’ campaign not only received immense traction but was also deemed ‘risky yet immensely successful’.

  • AltBalaji collaborates with ketto india; launches #oonchiudaan

    AltBalaji collaborates with ketto india; launches #oonchiudaan

    MUMBAI: ALTBalaji, India’s leading homegrown OTT platform, in association with Ketto India launches Oonchi Udaan —an initiative that will help in empowering women across our country. Through this initiative, the OTT player aims to create a deep impact in contributing towards women’s welfare in order to get them ready for the future and face the world with utmost confidence. As part of the initiative, Rs.5 from each ALTBalaji subscription will be donated as proceedings towards this cause. It has always been ALTBalaji’s endeavour to portray the strength of today’s Indian woman with each of its initiatives and even the strong characterization of women depicted in its shows.

    Oonchi Udaan will work towards the betterment of the underprivileged women of our society by providing them with education, teaching life-skills and enhancing their livelihood skills. In addition to that, it will also help build a strong 360-degree life of learning and economic foundation that equips women to escape the cycle of poverty.

    Commenting on the collaboration, Divya Dixit, Senior VP & Marketing Head ALTBalaji said, ‘Women empowerment and their upliftment in modern-day society is extremely close to our hearts at ALTBalaji. It is something that is also highlighted prominently in our women-centric shows whether it be Haq Se, Kehne Ko Hum Safar Hain, The Test Case or the most recent one Mission Over Mars.  Oonchi Udaan aims to empower underprivileged women to learn new skillsets and becoming independent. It is our one small step in the right direction towards women receiving the support and we request you to support us in this mission”

    Speaking on the association, Varun Sheth, CEO of Ketto said, “The development of our nation is directly appended to the empowerment of women. It’s utterly essential that we as a nation address this problem of socio-economic inequality where women succumb to poverty due to lack of education, resources, and skill development. Crowdfunding can help create the much-needed avenues for women empowerment wherein initiatives like ‘Oonchi Udaan’ are funded to help equip women with skills required to escape the cycle of poverty.”

    ALTBalaji with its latest web series M.O.M – Mission Over Mars, showcased an inspiring story of determination and faith of four women scientists who led the Mars mission. They not only led it, but made it a resounding success despite the lack of resources, time and at the brunt of constant doubts and taunts. To help kick-start this initiative, the digital platform is donating towards the cause through every new subscription they receive for Mission-Over-Mars.

    With the brand’s presence being extremely strong amongst a wide cross-section of the population in the country, the initiative will help to create awareness and acceptance amongst the masses. Building on the legacy of creating iconic shows, ALTBalaji’s exclusive content library has built a catalogue of more than 45 Originals like ‘Apharan,’ ‘Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain,’ ‘Home,’ ‘Gandii Baat’, ‘The Test Case’, ‘Bose: Dead or Alive’ among others, which continue to be lauded by viewers across the globe.

     

  • Epic on unveils digital quiz game ‘Epic IQ Panga’

    Epic on unveils digital quiz game ‘Epic IQ Panga’

    MUMBAI: EPIC Channel, an infotainment brand known for its premium Indian factual entertainment content recently announced their upcoming TV show – ‘EPIC INDIA QUIZ CHALLENGE’, a distinctive India-themed quiz series for young minds from classes 5th – 10th. The show aims at finding children with the highest ‘IQ’- India Quotient, and will be hosted by the sensational and ever-affable Meiyang Chang.

    Prior to the show launch, EPIC brings a real-time taste of the series for audiences of all ages with its first foray into the world of mobile gaming- ‘EPIC IQ PANGA’ – a daily digital quiz about India, that can be played on the EPIC On smartphone app. People across India can sign up for EPIC On and participate in the mobile quiz at 8:30 pm every night, and stand a chance to win exciting prizes every single day.

    The EPIC IQ Panga is an India-based quiz with questions from the world of sports, mythology, culture, history, current affairs, and more. Users need to answer a set of 10 questions about the country as fast as they can to get the highest score possible. The EPIC IQ Panga gets even more exciting with a LIVE leaderboard and trivia about the quiz played where one can see daily, weekly and monthly winners.

    Brands like Involve Your Senses, Club Mahindra, KidZania, Furtados School of Music, and Crossword have come on board to gratify the winners with some exciting prizes and at the end of the quiz period, one lucky winner stands a chance to win the BUMPER Prize- a Smart TV by METZ Premium German Televisions.

    EPIC Channel has always been dedicated to bring content based on India for Indians and now with the quiz show in the pipeline the channel is reaffirming their commitment towards providing India- based infotainment.